CLUB SIDE TO TOUR

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31060, 16 May 1966, Page 9

CLUB SIDE TO TOUR

Games With Hong Kong (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. A Hong Kong soccer team is almost certain to tour New Zealand later this season, and a Fijian national side may also make a tour. The council of the New Zealand Football Association, meeting at the week-end, decided to accept the terms offered by a Hong Kong club side. Sing Tao. The association has written to the club advising that it is willing to arrange five games in New Zealand, one each to be played in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, with two venues to be fixed later. Although no date for the tour was mentioned at the meeting, the deputy-chairman, Mr J. Cowie, had said earlier that if a Hong Kong team came it would probably be In August. He has also said it would probably play one game against a national under-23 side. Mr C. R. Wilkins said that It could be possible to bring a Fijian team to New Zealand for 17 days to play seven games. He suggested that the venues for the games be Wellington, Auckland. Gisborne, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Christchurch and Nelson. There is still a possibility that Manchester United, the English club side that reached the semi-finals of the European Cup this season, will tour New Zealand in 1967. Mr Wilkins said that negotiations with the club would be conducted when N.Z.F.A. officials were in England for the F.I.F.A. conference next month.